Basra council rejects the proposed sale of the presidential palaces in the province a

Basra council rejects the proposed sale of the presidential palaces in the province and calls for a tourism investment

2016-02-14 21:49:04 | (Voice of Iraq) - Basra

The members of the provincial council in Basra, Sunday, objected to the proposal, which requires the sale of the presidential palaces left behind by Saddam Hussein in order to alleviate the large deficit in the public budget, and called for the government to take advantage of shortcomings in the province through the tourist investment.

The Chairman of the Planning Commission and follow-up in the provincial council originated Mansouri in an interview with Alsumaria's News, he said that "the presidential palaces in the province is a national treasure, and can not be compromised ownership in all circumstances," noting that "those deficiencies are found in prime locations and occupy large areas, so It can be converted into tourist facilities dating revenues to the state. "

Mansouri pointed out that "the Iraqi government should benefit from the experiences of other countries in determining how to take advantage of the presidential palaces, but sold it a failed proposal to the provincial council rejected absolutely."

In turn, Chairman of the Development and Reconstruction of the provincial council flower Albjara said in an interview with Alsumaria's News, he said that "presidential palaces is a red line because they are part of the wealth of the people," adding that "put forward to invest much better than the proposed abandonment of ownership, since the sale means losing forever, while can be utilized in the implementation of tourism projects and recreational achieved revenues of the state, and there are many international companies want the implementation of investment projects of this kind. "

For his part, chairman of the oil and gas committee in the provincial council Ali Shaddad Knight said in an interview with Alsumaria News's, said that "talking about the sale of the presidential palaces in Baghdad or the provinces just a proposal did not acquire any official version, also did not officially a provincial council this proposal," adding, "the Council of Ministers already decided to put the presidential palaces at the disposal of local governments in the provinces, and we are in the Basra Governorate Council against making it private property."

Knight pointed out that the "presidential palaces in Basra eligible to be museums and tourist facilities successful," adding that "to achieve this in the interest of the citizens, as the benefit to the government because they will get a financial revenue."

It is noteworthy that the presidential palaces, which is located in the vicinity of Basra's city center Albradaah area complex completed the beginning of the nineties of the last century on the ground (Sarraji) park, which was the largest amusement park in the province before it is seized by the former regime, the complex consists of four huge palaces neighboring gardens and lakes industrial buildings and apartments for guards and escorts, and British forces turned those palaces in 2003 to a military base, and when the withdrawal has delivered in late 2007 to the Iraqi government.

At the current stage of government palaces complex includes a number of headquarters and government offices, including the Office of the Commission the popular crowd, and channel Basra, TV and cell security crisis, the Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, and dwelling temporary chief of police in the province, and there is a large hotel under construction, it was decided a few years ago to convert one shortcoming to the Museum of natural history, but the project has been done so far by the University of Basra, and also decided to convert the mansion into another historical museum of civilizations Sumerian, Assyrian, Akkadian, but the project did not achieve the rate of achievement worth mentioning.

Referred to the presidential palaces in Basra province is characterized by luxurious, and its architectural style unique, as the ceilings of the rooms and halls are all decorated with Islamic inscriptions, and some palaces wooden balconies mimic the design Aelchenachel heritage houses overlooking them, and still Saddam Hussein's name engraved on wooden frames, columns and arches stone for interior and exterior gates to those overlooking the Shatt al-Arab palaces.